Improvement in illuminated signs



F. McLEWEE.

ILLUMINATED SIGNS.

N .178'941' Patented June M, 1876.

C C C Wz'lnmea: 17222012202:

N. PETER PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

FREDERICK MGLEWEE, OF YORK, N. Y.

lMPROVEMENT IN ILLUMINATED SIGNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,941, dated J 11116 20, 1876 application filed November 15,1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I FREDERICK MCLEWEE, of the city of New York, county and State of New York, have invent-ed an Improved Illuminated Sign, of which the following is a specification: I

Figure l is a face view of my improved illuminated sign, and Fig. 2 is a.horizontal section thereof. 1

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

This invention has for its object to improve that class of illuminated signs which are in part or entirely composed of glass crystals or prism-heads attached to wire frames.

In order to form letters or other characters on such signs, difi'erentcolored prism-heads were usually employed; but they are only available for letters of large size, as smaller letters cannot be produced from the ordinary prism-heads, certainly not letters that are to be narrower than said crystals.

Now, my invention consists in combining opaque letters or characters with a background formed of glass crystals or prismhcads, and in attaching the same to the same wire frame to which said crystals are attached, all as hereinafter'more fully describer In the accompanying drawing, the letter A represents the wire frame of my sign. B B are the glass crystals or prism-heads attached to said frame, being usually fastened thereto by loops at a of finer wire. 0 0 are letters made of metal or other opaque material, or of glass of a difi'e'rent color than the color 'of the prism heads; but I prefer opaque letters. These letters, being shaped as desired, are placed over the prism-heads B at the required places, and are then fastened to the frame'A by wire loops 1) b, that pass between the prism-heads to the frame; but other fastening devices may be employed.

When the lettering is to be seen only at night, the letters 0 may be'placed within the frame, against the inner sides of the prismheads, and will be rendered visible as soon as the interior of the frame is illuminated by gas or other light; but for ordinary purposes it is preferable to apply the letters 0 over the outer faces of the prism-heads.

It will be seen that, by the use of readyformed letters 0 on the prism background B, I am enabled to apply very small or very large letters to the same background with equal ease, and to produce at the same time a very rich and beautiful effect.

I claim as my invention The illuminated sign composed of the frame A, of the crystals B B, which constitute the background, and of the ready-formed letter or letters 0, placed against said background, substantially as specified.

The foregoing description of my invention signed by me this 11th day of November, 1875-.

FREDERICK MoLEWEE. Witnesses: ERNEST GrWEBB,

A. MORAGA. 

